Community Improvement Plan

Applicant may apply for one or any combination of the following:

Façade:

• Front Façade Only: Matching grant of up to 50% of eligible costs or a maximum grant of $12,500 per property, whichever is less.
• Front and Side and/or Rear Façade: Matching grant of up to 50% of eligible improvement costs or a maximum grant of $25,000 per property, whichever is less for façade improvement projects involving more than one façade. This is limited to:
  • buildings located on corner lots (that is, properties with frontage on two municipal streets); or
  • Commercial buildings which include a public entrance to the ground-floor premises from the rear of the building and which face onto a rear parking lot open to the public.
  • Buildings with rear or side elevations which face onto a public park, other public gathering space such as a public square, or a public parking lot.

• The minimum grant is $2,000 per property. Project applications including matching assistance of less than $2,000 will not be considered.

• Signage grants are only available as part of a larger façade improvement application. The funding limits described above are inclusive of both façade and signage components.
• Signage improvements must comply with the Town of Orangeville Sign By-Law in effect at the time of approval of grant application.
• Matching grant of up to 50% of eligible costs or a maximum grant of $2,500 per property, whichever is less.
• The minimum signage grant is $1,000 per property. Project applications including matching assistance of less than $1,000 will not be considered.

• All buildings listed in the Town’s municipal heritage register may be eligible for an additional $5,000 in matching grant assistance. This includes buildings that are designated under Part IV or Part V of the Heritage Act, as well as non-designated buildings listed in the Town’s municipal heritage register.

Costs associated with materials, labour, equipment and professional fees related to external building works specifically for façade improvement and signage development as applicable. The Town of Orangeville will determine final eligibility of works based on reference to the Town’s Urban Design Guidelines applicable to Priority Zone 1. Examples (non-exhaustive) of eligible costs include the following:

General Cost Categories in Priority Zone 1

• Enhancement, replacement and rehabilitation of commercial/retail doors, windows, and façades
• Restoration of existing façade and surfaces (woods, tuck pointing, cleaning)
• New surface materials
• Architectural design fees
• Enhancement or replacement of existing lighting fixtures
• Improvements and enhancements to street front signage only as part of a larger façade
• Rear and side façade improvements designed specifically to enhance the look and appearance of these elevations of the property and yard areas where accessible by the public
• Costs associated with the production and installation of signage for Eligible Property
• Other capital improvements which the Town determines are important to incorporate as an integral part of the total façade improvement design
• Construction of building façades associated with new second storey space. The addition of useable second storey space is encouraged for single-storey commercial buildings. Second storey façades may be eligible for this program provided the façade(s) are designed specifically to enhance the look and appearance of these elevations where visible by the public

Additional Considerations within the Heritage Conservation District Located in Priority Zone 1

• Renovation of existing storefronts in accordance with standard principles of traditional storefront design (fascia board for signage above storefront, appropriate display windows, removal of incompatible alterations, etc.);
• Improvements to the principal façades of incompatible buildings being sympathetic and compatible with the historic character of the area;
• Re-cladding in more traditional materials complementary to the area character. Façade improvements can also be more contemporary in design provided the scale of key architectural features, including windows and other façade openings, are in keeping with the scale of surrounding buildings.
• Construction of building façades associated with new second storey space. The addition of useable second storey space is encouraged for single-storey non-contributing properties. Second storey façades may be eligible for this program provided the façades include: appropriately scaled window openings; high quality building materials; and an overall design that successfully integrates the second storey façade with the ground floor façade.

• Other capital improvements which the Town determines are important to incorporate as an integral part of the total façade improvement design.

Note: While many of the cost eligibilities noted above will apply to Heritage Properties, alterations to these properties are subject to the provisions of the Ontario Heritage Act.

Applicant may apply for the following:

Grant

• Matching grant of up to 50% of eligible landscape improvement costs or a maximum grant of $20,000 per property, whichever is less.
• The minimum grant is $5,000 per property. Project applications including matching assistance of less than $2,000 will not be considered.

Costs associated with materials, labour, equipment and professional fees related to external, site- related improvement works generally described as property landscape enhancements. Eligible costs are expected to range from minor existing landscaping enhancements to more substantial measures to support improved aesthetics, pedestrian access, hardscaping and site entrance features, among other goals.

Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Town will prioritize those site improvements which involve durable site improvements (hardscaping, accessibility improvements, lighting, etc.) rather than those focused primarily on plantings. The Town will also prioritize the installation of permeable hard- surface treatment such as permeable pavement and asphalt to improve infiltration and help achieve groundwater source protection.

The following work is ineligible:

• Building improvements (excluding attached lighting designed to improve appearance of forecourts, pedestrian walkways and parking areas);
• Applications that are limited to vegetation planting only;
• Applications for which more than 25% of the costs pertain to parking pad improvements or the addition of parking spaces;
• On-site asphalt repair and resurfacing save and except for surface treatment measures that involve permeable materials;
• Repair and replacement of existing culverts unless part of a broader site improvement plan; and
• Generally work which is deemed by the Town to comprise repair and maintenance of existing landscaped areas.

The grant is equivalent to a proportion of the work value and provided on a matching funds basis to a maximum of 50% of eligible costs:

Secured Interest-free Forgivable Loan*

• Maximum grant of $35,000 per property (minimum grant of $10,000 per property);
• Grant is a secured loan, forgivable over 5 years at an annual rate of 20%.

Conditions of approval will be established by the Town and may extend to any reasonable consideration to ensure the interests of the Town as funder are upheld.

Generally, all approvals under this program will require that construction commence within 6 months of an approved building permit, and Final Completion within 18 months. Council may at its discretion adjust these requirements based on the particular circumstances of the construction project which may necessitate approvals from other agencies and/or delays in construction which are not in the control of the applicant to overcome.

Where the property is sold or interest in the property is transferred to another entity within the 5-year Loan Forgiveness period, the remaining principal of the grant (after annual forgiveness) is repayable to the Town. Upon sale or transfer, all outstanding loan obligations remain payable to the Town based on the approved loan repayment agreement signed by both the Town and the applicant in advance of program assistance. Year 1 of the repayment period commences upon Final Completion of the project.

Applicants will be required to enter into an agreement as to the above terms and conditions of the grant/loan elements of the program. 

*Loan Forgiveness is defined as the incremental accretion of grant status of funds dispersed to approved applicants under this program. This translation from interest free loan to grant status (and hence non-repayable to the Town) is earned on the basis of 20% at the end of each twelve (12) month period following the execution of the Agreement. In the event of sale or transfer of interest of the property within the 5-year period, Loan Forgiveness ceases to accumulate and the remaining loan repayment is calculated on a prorated basis.

Eligibility

An illustrative categorization of Eligible Costs includes the following:

• Building, fire and other code compliance upgrades linked to the development of retail space, office space, upper floor residential use or the creation of institutional lease space;
• Major building retrofit for retail space, office space, upper floor residential use or the creation of institutional lease space;
• Interior structural works and upgrades; and
• Major upgrades to electrical, mechanical, HVAC and other building systems.
• For clarity, improvements should run with the building and contribute to its economic sustainability regardless of the tenanted business associated with the space.

The following work is ineligible:

• Works that only include accessibility improvements (note accessibility improvements can be part of broader renovation works described above); 
• Works that represent, in the view of the Town, repair and replacement of existing building systems, fixed in place or otherwise. For clarity, these works do not represent an order of magnitude improvement in upgraded systems;
• Exterior building improvements (façade and signage);
• Roof replacement where not part of a structural/architectural alteration to the building;
• Development on the property but not part of the existing structure;
• External landscape, parking and site works of any kind;
• Furniture, Fixtures and Equipment;
• Building improvements (excluding attached lighting designed to improve);
• Tenant fit-ups which are specific to a business intended to, or currently, renting space. These are part of normal leasehold costs which should be borne by the landlord and/or tenant as part of a leasehold contract. 

Eligible Costs may be adjusted from time to time by the Town of Orangeville. These objectives will seek to relate each application to the downtown renewal, development goals and objectives of the Town.

In general terms, the following criteria will be used as a basis for determining the amount of funding: 

• Location and scale of the property;
• Square footage of space to be renovated;
• Long-term viability of the property (long term use versus shorter term use);
• Quality and extent of submitted plans, cost schedules, and proposed timeline to completion;
• Existence or otherwise of professional quotes from multiple contractors (minimum three (3)) operating at arm’s length from the applicant;

The General Eligibility Requirements outlined in Section 4.2 of the CIP also apply.

Employment Land: 

• The maximum amount of the grant is 80% of the annual municipal tax increment over the agreed base assessment and property tax liability in Year 1 declining by 10% every two years. The maximum duration of this program is 10 years.

Contaminated Land and Affordable Housing:

• The maximum amount of the grant is fixed for the duration of assistance at 80% of the annual municipal tax increment over the agreed base assessment. The maximum duration of program assistance is 10 years or the total of eligible costs, whichever is reached first.
• Program eligibility is limited to those projects/proposals that will result in a minimum of 1,000 sq. m. of new Industrial space.
• This program only applies to the Town of Orangeville portion of the tax rate. For greater clarity, this program does not apply to the Education Portion of the tax rate or the Dufferin County portion of the tax rate.

Eligibility

For all three categories, eligible costs include the following:

Eligible project costs supported under this program include (but are not limited to) the following works related to new office constructed:

• Site development and infrastructure work including demolition and disposal off-site, improvement or reconstruction of existing on-site public infrastructure (water services, sanitary and storm sewers, other);
• Major building rehabilitation, and significant renovation and rehabilitation;
• New Construction;
• Costs associated with the assessment of environmental conditions and the remediation of environmental contamination, and environmental protection;
• Design and engineering directly related to the design, development and commissioning of the completed building(s); 
• Eligible costs exclude both construction financing and long-term debt financing principal and interest costs.
• All submitted costs will be subject to review and approval by the Town of Orangeville.
• Final eligibility will be determined through the demonstrated success of the project through all stages of application (as required) for planning approval, building permit issuance and building code compliance, construction, occupancy, financial viability (as evidenced by the capacity of the owner to pay all required property taxes on the property) and finally revaluation by the Ontario Municipal Property Assessment Corporation (MPAC).

Contaminated Land:

Eligible costs are included above but are also further specified below:

• Environmental remediation and costs of achieving acknowledgement of a Record of Site Condition by the MECP and Certificate of Property Use as may be required. This includes remedial action plans, risk management plans, and implementation costs;
• Waste transfer of contaminated (impacted) soils only to landfill and tipping fees for contaminated soils land fill. This explicitly excludes excess soil removal as part of the required development for soils which are not contaminated;
• Fill and grading to replace only contaminated soils;
• At the discretion of Council, demolition of existing buildings or structures required as part of remediation efforts;
• At the discretion of Council, site development and infrastructure work including improvement or reconstruction of existing on-site infrastructure and development, triggered by the existence of contamination and requirements for remediation;
• Legal fees directly related to site investigation, remediation and filing of a Record of Site Condition and compliance with any Certificate of Property Use;
• Insurance premiums for Cost Cap Insurance and Pollution Legal Liability (PLL) Insurance; and
• Ongoing site environmental monitoring and management (part of risk management strategies).

Building Permit Fees Grant:

• A grant equivalent to 50% of building permit fees for new builds or major renovations as itemized by the applicable fee schedule of the Town of Orangeville at the time of application.
• Maximum grant of $10,000 per property or 50% of building permit fee costs, whichever is less.

Planning Fees Grant:

• A grant equivalent to 50% of planning fees combined from all planning fees as itemized by the applicable fee schedule of the Town of Orangeville at the time of application.
• Maximum total grant of $5,000 per property or 50% of combined planning fee costs, whichever is less. Limit of one grant per property.

• Planning application fees for: Zoning By-law amendments; Site Plan Approval; Minor Variance; Application for Consent, Part Lot Control Exemption and Subdivision/ Condominium Agreement being in full force and effect. The Grant is limited only to those fees outlined in the Town’s current Fees and Charges By-law at the time of application and is always limited to the grant maximums available under this program.
• Building permit fees as applicable to any development in the Employment lands pursuant to the Building Code Act.
• During the plan period, additional applications for planning approval above and beyond the approvals subject to an initial application, will be considered. Similarly, additional application for building permit grants arising from subsequent additional works, will also be considered.

Town-wide: A matching grant of up to 50% of eligible costs or a maximum grant of $1,000 per property, whichever is less. Eligible Costs are limited to accessible parking signage.

The minimum amount of grant under this program (in any location) is $500.

Priority Zones 1 and 2: 50% of eligible costs of a maximum of $5,000 per property, which ever is less.

The minimum amount of grant under this program (in any location) is $1,000.

Town-wide: Fabrication and Installation of legislatively approved accessible parking signage. Examples of Eligible Costs (non-exhaustive) in Priority Zones 1 and 2 include:

• Accessible parking signage (per above Town-wide)
• Power assist door operators; 
• Renovation of building entrances;
• Upgrading of doors;
• Design and installation of access ramps;
• Installation of elevating devices;
• Renovations to create accessible washrooms.
• Interior renovations for accessibility in work areas, offices, and kitchens and other spaces as appropriate.

In Priority Zone 1, applicants are permitted to apply for this grant in addition to Program 3: Major Building Improvement and Conversion Grant Program.

This program provides for the deferral of 50% of the Town of Orangeville’s applicable Development Charges levied on commercial and industrial developments for a maximum of eighteen (18) months.

Further, the program covers the interest generated as a result of deferral of Development Charges to a maximum of $15,000 or that which is accrued over 18 months, whichever is less. The prevailing interest rate applied to the deferral of charges is determined by the Town and according to its policies in this regard.

Full payment of the Town Development Charge will be due no later than twenty four (24) months after the building permit is issued.

The interest generated by this deferral is applied to the applicant’s account and a grant for the equivalent portion provided from the CIP reserve. 

This Development Charge Deferral program applies only to Development Charges imposed by the Town of Orangeville. It does not apply to Dufferin County Development Charges nor Education Development Charges collected by the Town on behalf of the School Boards.

• Applicable Development Charges for Target recipients.

• Town of Orangeville will reimburse the owner or developer for costs associated with eligible studies. Eligible studies are anticipated to include a Phase II ESA and Remediation Action Plans, Risk Assessments, and other studies that are part of the regulatory submission requirements to enable a Record of Site Condition (RSC) acknowledged by Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks (MECP).
• Studies which do not contribute to the prescribed regulatory process will not be approved for funding support. The Phase II ESA and other subsequent analysis must conform in methodology, content and reporting with the requirements of Ontario Regulation 153/04.
• Maximum individual grant is $20,000 or 50% of the cost of the ESA, whichever is less.
• Assistance per Project: 

  (i)        Maximum of 2 studies per Project; and

  (ii)      Maximum of $35,000 per Project for the duration of this CIP. 

• Applicants may be required to furnish the Town with additional information, relinquish ownership of ESA reports and enter into additional agreements as necessary to the satisfaction of the Town.
• Conversely the Town, acting in its discretion, may decline funding if it is determined that the project is unlikely to be viable or otherwise does not meet the objectives of the CIP. This may include, for example, a Phase I ESA that is indeterminate as to the necessity for a Phase II ESA in order to achieve the stated land use.

See Target Group and Project Specifics.